West Ham United Development Squad goalkeeper Sam Howes was delighted to help his side progress to the last 16 of the Premier League Cup after making the crucial save in a penalty shootout against Millwall.
The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes when Jaanai Gordon's first competitive goal of the season drew the Hammers level.
In the shootout, the first 15 penalties were all scored, until Sam Howes dived to his right to save Dylan Casey's penalty.
Speaking after the game, Howes said: "It was a great win and a great result especially at our own ground. It's always good to get one over them, especially when we haven't played them for a while.
"It felt like the game was going to go into extra time because it was 0-0 for so long. They scored late on and I thought it was all over but thankfully we equalised quickly after that. Thankfully luck was on my side and I ended up saving one."
Prior to the penalty shootout, Howes had made a string of excellent saves to deny Millwall breaking the deadlock.
"I thought my overall performance was good. But it was about the team as a whole today. They grafted hard, and it was a battle out there. They're a different type of team to one we usually face, a different category team and a different way of playing.
"I don't practise saving penalties that often, it's mainly luck and guessing the right direction they're going to go. Sometimes luck is on your side, and today it was."
The win is the Dev Squad's second consecutive victory after they beat Jong PSV 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground last Wednesday and Howes believes they can build on this momentum.
"Confidence is getting better now after two wins on the bounce. They are more smiles are the dressing room and in training. All through the age groups the teams are doing well which is nice to see. The U18s are doing well so everything is going well for the club at the minute."